Land of the Lost (c) 2009 Relativity Media

Relativity Media – 2009

Starring: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride

Director: Brad Silberling

Predictable.  Juvenile.  Unimaginative.  Yes.  I’m talking about Will Ferrell’s performance in the big screen adaptation of the beloved 70’s television show Land of the Lost. I know I may be stepping on a few toes, and I have nothing against Will Ferrell (especially after his turn as doomed IRS agent Harold Crick in Stranger Than Fiction), but I have to side with those who are now questioning whether or not our love affair with Ferrell has come to an end.

Ferrell stars as Dr. Rick Marshall whose theories on quantum paleontology and time warping make him the laughing stock of the scientific community.  After a humiliating appearance on the Today show, when Matt Lauer rips him to shreds, Dr. Marshall finds himself giving presentations to field tripping school kids at the La Brea tar pits.  When a beautiful, young doctoral candidate named Holly (played by Anna Friel) throws a fossil onto his desk with the imprint of a Zippo, everything changes.  Following Holly to the middle of the desert, where she found the fossil, Marshall uses his recently completed tacyon-locating-device  to open a portal to another dimension where the past, present, and future all collide.

What Land of the Lost gets right: The film’s production is pitch perfect for a Summer blockbuster – especially the natural juxtaposition of 50s Americana (ie: the neon motel sign near the pool) and other well known iconographic architectural landmarks against the stark desert landscape.  Compare the film to the kitsch of the 70s television show, however, and you’ll see a film taking itself far too seriously.

What Land of the Lost gets wrong: Everything else.

Everyone knows its dangerous business remaking a show that has a cult following – especially when everyone involved seems hellbent on taking it to a different level.  Obviously you’re going to run the risk of alienating your existing fan base, which, in this case, is exactly what happened.  Add to this volatile cocktail a worn-through Ferrell who is starring as Will Ferrell here, not as Dr. Rick Marshall, and you have a film that falls flat against its great CGI, sets, and sound design.

The humor in Land of the Lost borders on the inappropriate – how much longer are we going to continue to laugh at gay, show tunes jokes?  It’s so played out.  And I know I’m not alone in saying seeing Ferrell’s half-naked, flabby, sweaty, hairy body isn’t just not funny, it’s crude and ridiculously lazy acting.  If you’re listening, Mr. Ferrell, you’re a good actor, but I beg you – please stop showing me your sweaty crotch in an attempt to make me laugh.  It’s gross and unattractive.

The final word: Land of the Lost should be a great family film well-suited to the Summer season but manages to fall desperately short of being funny, entertaining, or imaginative.  Even your kids will be able to predict what’s going to happen next, and unless you have a few prepubescent boys amongst your ranks, don’t expect a lot of laughs. If you must, and I emphasize must, queue it up on your Netflix account and have a night in.